The fifth episode of “The Ultimate Fighter 16” drew an average of
624,000 viewers to FX on Friday night, the smallest audience since
the reality series began in 2005. Industry sources confirmed the
ratings with Sherdog.com on Monday.

The season’s previous low came Sept. 28, when 775,000 viewers tuned
in for Episode 3. Last week, ratings reached a high-water mark of
1.1 million viewers as the show was bolstered by the
UFC on FX 5 broadcast that preceded it. Overall, “TUF 16” is
averaging 864,000 viewers through five episodes.

The fifth installment of “TUF 16” saw Team Carwin member Igor Araujo
take a majority decision triumph against Team Nelson’s Nic
Herron-Webb in a first-round welterweight contest.

“The Ultimate Fighter” began airing on Spike in 2005 and remained
on the network through last year. When the Ultimate Fighting
Championship joined forces with Fox, the series moved to FX in
2012. “TUF 15” was the first iteration of the reality series to
feature live fights at the end of each show, but the UFC has
returned to the taped format for the current season.

Featuring former interim heavyweight champion Shane
Carwin and “TUF 10” winner Roy Nelson as
coaches, “TUF 16” began with 32 welterweights vying for a
six-figure UFC contract. Carwin and Nelson -- along with the
170-pound finalists -- will square off at the show’s finale on Dec.
15 in Las Vegas.